Drew Michael Scott, more commonly known as Lone Fox, is a DIY expert who loves blending vintage styles with new and exciting design trends. From replastering to painting and tiling, Drew has tried it all and often posts about it on his Instagram, so he's the perfect person to guide you through your renovating journey.
Drew renovated his entire home throughout 2024 and has recently shared the behind-the-scenes of the remodeling process. Guiding us through the year, Drew shows us the main areas he renovated in his 1929 Spanish revival-style home and the steps he took to get there. It's fair to say he has drastically transformed the space whilst acknowledging the original architecture and style of the property. Let's take a look at Drew's run-through and his exciting year of DIY.
January – the bathroom plaster project
Drew starts the year off strong by completely redesigning his dated bathroom using a plastering technique that entirely masks the original tiles. Describing the space as 'the biggest controversy of 2024', Drew's original space once lacked character and personality but became virtually unrecognizable once plastered.
Piling on thick layers of plaster, he explains 'I plastered over the tiles floor to ceiling.' He added a much-needed dose of texture in the bathroom and finished the space with cream paint. The texture and color choice transform the room into a rustic and cozy haven, only emphasized by the antique decor and brass hardware, reminiscent of the Spanish revival style.
Drew's method is budget-friendly as well as time-efficient, as renovating is a costly job. Drew says he 'saved a ton of money' not having to remove the original tiles, so he instead plastered over them. And a whole just later it still looks perfect, and is still water tight.
February – the pass through room
In February, Drew tackled the 'pass through' room, located at the entrance of his bedroom. He decided to cover the walls entirely in an unconventional material –wood flooring.
Drew first ripped out the original cabinets which gave the area more space, allowing for the room to be entirely reutilized. He then replaced the floor with wood flooring and covered the walls with the same material. Describing the finished result as 'so warm and cozy', Drew says he loves the feel of the new space which he now uses as a little home office. You can see in Drew's Instagram post of his office that he matches the furniture and decor to the wooden floors and walls, creating a unified nook.
Like Drew's desk chair, this wooden chair is vintage in style with its woven seat and arched back. Place this under a table for a country-style pairing.
Rattan is always on trend and a timeless choice for any room, and lighting is a really easy way to bring it into any room. Hang above your desk for warmth and character.
Drew places a little landscape above his desk, giving the area a cozy, lived-in feel that ties in with the wooden cladding.
March – the red entrway
Back in March Drew took us a little by surprise and decided to transform his entryway into a cottage-style passageway. Each door is coordinated in a deep red lacquer, creating a fun and whimsical twist on a sometimes overlooked space.
Drew says he 'was feeling super creative and wanted to do something daring', and it's fair to say he's done just that. He makes sure to match the red with other decor in the space like the rug and mirror so it feels like a cohesive look. The red frames each doorway in the hall and acts as a bold focal point that will entice guests into entering. Drew says, 'I know it’s not for everyone' but we are obsessed with this fun decorating move that harnesses his love for color and country-style interiors.
April – the paint mistake
Renovation is not an easy process. It's inevitable to be met with challenges and hiccups. Drew proves this when he shows us his stairwell transformation which he entirely repaints for a second time.
Initially starting with a dark brown, Drew painted his entryway in this shade before changing his mind and going for a lighter color. 'In April, I painted all the walls a dark brown and then painted over them in this nice nude color.' Drew says. While decorating with brown can be warm and cozy, it's not always appropriate in spaces that lack light as it can overwhelm and darken the overall feel. Drew recognized this and went for a light nude to lift the entryway and give it a dose of life.
Always consider the space and its architecture before committing to a paint color as this can make or break the design of any space. Don't be put off if you don't like your initial choice, like Drew you too can start again.
May – the bedroom overhaul
Drew says 'In May we finally got to my bedroom'. One of the most exciting spaces to decorate, the bedroom is key as you'll be sleeping and relaxing there every evening. 'Waking up here is so peaceful every day' explains Drew, and we can see why. Let's take a look at the few things Drew does to make the space feel like a haven.
Paint is the first step to creating a thought-out scheme. Drew says, 'We painted the ceiling this golden color' which brings warmth and vibrancy to the space. Drew sticks to a neutral palette for the rest of the room to not overwhelm it with too many shades.
He explains that he did some DIY on a hutch with some brown paint and varnish to give it an old, antique look. Once that was completed, the bigger furniture pieces were positioned, such as the bed, curtains, lighting, and art. Create an inviting space that feels lived-in by incorporating older pieces like picture frames or table lamps.
This houndstooth throw is cozy and vintage in style, much like Drew's plaid blanket. It's all about bringing in textural pieces that provide depth and interest.
Drew has a rattan lounge chair which he places at the end of the room beside the window. Try this elegant wicker chair to create an airy and peaceful space.
Velvet is luxurious and elevates the overall look of a space. With a curved headboard and chic color palette, this upholstered bed is the perfect choice for a calming space.
June – the guest bedroom
What we love about Drew's home is each room's unique character which is different yet matches the overall Spanish revival style. This is no different when it comes to the guest room, where Drew goes for vintage-style wallpaper and antique decor, reminiscent of a country cottage.
Starting this area in June, he begins with wallpaper which inspires the rest of the room, saying, 'I painted everything else this green color that I pulled from the wallpaper.' The vintage design allowed for the later vintage decor to be added, like the vintage dresser and lighting. These elements are Drew's favorites he explains as they're 'so eclectic' and make the room charming and personal.
A top tip to creating character is using antique and vintage pieces as they bring a lived-in feel and warmth that newer pieces lack. If vintage isn't your thing, try vintage-inspired pieces that have an old feel, like brass-finished hardware or patterned wallpaper.
July – the breakfast nook
The breakfast nook before Drew went in with his DIY striped walls.
One of our favorite rooms in Drew's house is his breakfast nook, it's inviting, charming, and refreshing. He's blended old and new in this space by using antique pieces and contemporary furniture, creating a harmonious balance of charm and elegance.
Drew says the space 'just wasn't doing enough' before and decided to revamp it in true Drew fashion with bold striped walls. He says they 'amped' the room up and gave it a playfulness that it was previously lacking. Using tape, Drew makes a DIY template that ensures every stripe is uniform and neat, going around the entirety of the room meticulously. We loved Drew's breakfast nook before its new lick of paint but it's fair to say that we love it even more now.
Painted illustrations and patterns give plain walls a fun feel and make a room even more unique and special. Bold stripes are a big commitment, so if this look is a little daunting, try a painted mural on just one wall to create a showstopping feature.
Drew hasn't stopped renovating this year. It's been a long journey but the results have paid off and it's got us really inspired to revamp our homes and give a bit of DIY a go in 2024.
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